I planned to post at length this weekend, but then the sun decided to shine. So it goes.

One thing I do want to convey is how spectacular the YSL Retrospective was in Denver! The whole visit was great – too quick, but great – and the exhibit was definitely a highlight. It was so much larger than I was expecting [over 200 pieces] and each turn revealed new scenery. There was no photography allowed….buuut I did get a few sneaky snaps. I know, I know, being the obnoxious “entitled museum goer” isn’t what I aspire to be, but I just couldn’t resist. I actually got through the whole darn thing before I got caught [and pretty harshly scolded!] trying to get a good shot of THE black dress with pink bow pictured on all the promo materials. That one had to be deleted, but the rest remain. Here are some of my favorites:

Tomorrow after work I leave for Denver to visit my beloved sis, commence anxious trip-eve state! Needless to say, I’m quite excited. I haven’t been to Denver in a year & a half and so much has happened for her within that time: moving to a new apartment, working at a different school, and meeting a steady beau [who I cannot wait to meet]. I’m also looking forward to a weekend out of Portland and a chance to experience lots of food, drink, & conversation with my closest friend.

I’m so excited to see this!! I love fashion/textile exhibits and I’ve never been to DAM [not quite as giggle-inducing as VAG, but still I chuckled…], so it’s a win all around. Plus, the chance to see some handiwork from one of the capital “G” Greats up close [aka not in a book or magazine] is always enticing. I wanted to watch the documentary about YSL, L’Amour Fou , on the ‘Flix before departure, but alas, it’ll just have to serve as follow-up to the exhibition [and hopefully extension of the “couture-in-person” high]. My sis is the perfect museum companion as we tend to move at the same pace and are content to break off and go our own ways if desired. Stay tuned for the full review and *hopefully* plenty of ‘Gram material.

HuffPost Style had a great slideshow today accompanying an arty about a film version of the TV series “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” I’ll stop myself from launching into the “whys” of such an endeavor – really, are youthat desperate for ideas, H’wood?? – and instead focus on the joyous photos of Melissa Joan Hart as Sabrina rocking trends of the time that perfectly capture my Jr. High-early High School days [the series ran from 1996-2003].

"Hair-out-of-the-pony"

"These dresses"

"Bejeweled bobby pins"

"Chokers"

HOLY SHIZ. I had no idea how spot on the styling in this show was until seeing some stills in hindsight. These were exactly the trends that I followed and wanted *so badly* to pull off successfully [many a tardy due to picking justtherightamount of hair from the low/mid-level ponytail to effortlessly frame the face…]. Ah, youth! Thanks for the flashback, HPS!

A glimpse of the swag in my “basket” this year. My mom is so amazing at assembling the most thoughtful collection of items: number stamps with ink, a cufflink that belonged to my Granddad repurposed as a bracelet charm, and some sparkly crayons have all already been used. Thanks, mom and a very happy Easter & Passover to all!

IT WAS SUNNY ALL WEEKEND. I’ve blurted that sentence out multiple times today as I’ve mentally [and financially…eh….] taken stock of my weekend wanderings. This part of the country is so bizarre to me sometimes. I mean, people literally alter or altogether abandon plans when the giant, blazing orb in the sky comes out for the first few times in spring. Today, for example, I got a call from my bestie while I was at yoga, as we had plans to catch up at some point in the day; I got her message when I got home and texted her back saying “I’ll call you later- the sun is out.” ‘NUFF SAID. Thankfully, she lives in Seattle now, so she completely understands. I guess it’s not that different than the first nice day on campus during my college days in the midwest; now it’s just much more pronounced in a strangers high-fiving each other &/or smiling for no particular-reason way.

A new season – literally or figuratively – is always exhilarating for me. The promise and potential of the ‘unknown’ ahead scares the bejesus out of me, but in a way that makes me also really excited and usually creatively stimulated. Before I moved here and even up until pretty recently, I didn’t buy into the whole S.A.D or “woe is me it’s winter” as a justification for being down/depressed/stifled. But there is just no denying the power of a sunny day or stretch of days [preferred]; my thoughts have most definitely changed.

Alright, back to my aforementioned recent wanderings. I’m going to rely on my trusty phone camera roll-turned Instagram uploads to tell most of the tale for me. Seeing is believing: that goes for sunny days and shopping sprees.

Made a trip to the new-ish downtown Animal Traffic late last week to check out these cool, locally handmade bracelets [only $20!!]:

Those are all well and good, but I decided on something a bit more… Western. Definitely a new accessory family for me, but I think this will look great worn as a necklace with a black dress & boots:

Here’s one of my #dailybling snaps from the week that I especially like because it showcases the unique detailing often seen on vintage attire. The thoughtfully accented pocket square is sewn in and the pin is added by me- and yes, the locket really opens [but is empty, must change that].

A sweet, adorably labeled bright violet blouse I scored at Backtalk, the new boutique on Alberta that opened where The Factory used to be [obviously I also went in their new location just down the street, upgrade!]:

I love the name Josephine [Jo March!] and the top fits great and can be worn to work, so yeah, SOLD!

This next photo is of the bag purchases made at Solestruck shoes are sent home in:

So what can you deduce from this photo, you smart, beautiful human?
Yep, I bought some new kicks!

Ok… not these. Although this pair of Miu Miu “inspired “ [*cough* knock-off ] glitter booties did get me all hot and bothered and are the closest to the real thing Imma get for quite sometime.

No, I came away with these booty-kickin’, strut-inducing, BA gold studded black boots:

Ya know, for not being a “shoe person” I’ve certainly been posting about them a lot lately, eh? While my accessorizing allegiance will always be with jewels over purses/bags, scarves, belts, and shoes, I’m coming to have a very…let’s say ‘healthy’ relationship with the latter. I’m a bit surprised they came home with me but I have not an ounce of buyer’s remorse [not like I ever do]. I love them and since you can get away with wearing boots nearly year-round in the PNW, they’ve already been worn a few times.

As always, so much to do and see in this fair city, and most definitely when the weather is equally as lovely. Cheers to seasons and wandering without destination.

Any guesses? C’mon… I even turned down the corner of the tissue paper…

Ta-da!! It’s the yellow dress from Flutter I mentioned last post [“Outfit Envy“]:

Something glorious, albeit temporary, happened with my work schedule about a month ago: I now work an hour later M-Th and then only till noon on Fridays. OMG, it’s amazing. Like I said, I’ll only have this option for a few months and I intend to savor it to the max! I used my 1/2 day [also happened to be payday!] this week to visit Flutter to see if Goldie – as I’ve dubbed her – would fit me. Pictures tell the rest of the story- she’s mine!

Yellow dresses are nothing new in pop culture, thank you Ann Margaret, but they are uncharted territory for me. I tend to avoid light colors and before Goldie, have only owned one other yellow dress in my adult life. I don’t think she suggests a move towards more of the same wardrobe-wise, but it is nice to branch out of one’s closet comfort zone every once in a while, especially when led so strongly to do so. I saw, I came, I conquered. Which I guess is a great biz lesson: use social networks to your advantage! Post photos of new merch often to lure in poor, unsuspecting “fans” trolling Facebook on their phones in cubicles across the country.

I’ll wait till summer to take Goldie out, but her sunny fabric is already making #6 a bit brighter.